"Oh, well--it may be their house, strictly speaking," agreed the Earl, "but Horbury was its tenant, anyway, and the furniture and things in it are his--I'm sure of that, for he and I shared a similar taste in collecting old oak, and I know where he bought most of his possessions. I can't make the behaviour of these people out at all--and I'm getting more and more uneasy about the whole thing, Miss Fosdyke--as I'm sure you are. I wonder if the police will find the man who came to the Station Hotel on Saturday? Now, if they could lay hands on him, and get to know who he was, and what he wanted, and if he really met your uncle----" The Earl suddenly paused and turned from the window with a glance at Betty. "There's young Mr. Neale coming across from the bank," he observed. "I think he's coming here. By the by, isn't he a relation of Horbury's?" "No," said Betty. "But my uncle was his guardian. Is he coming here, Lord Ellersdeane?" "Straight here," replied the Earl. "Perhaps he's got some news." Betty had the door open before Neale could knock at it. He came in with a smile, and glanced half-whimsically, half as if he had queer news to give, at the two people who looked so inquiringly at him. "Well?" demanded Betty. "What is it, Wallie? Have these two precious principals sent you with news?" "They're not my principals any longer," answered Neale. He laid down some books and an old jacket on the table. "That's my old working coat," he went on, with a laugh. "I've worn it for the last time--at Chestermarke's. They've dismissed me." Lord Ellersdeane turned sharply from the window, and Betty indulged in a cry of indignation. "Dismissed--you?" she exclaimed. "Dismissed!" "With a quarter's salary in lieu of notice," laughed Neale, slapping his pocket. "I've got it here--in gold." "But--why?" asked Betty. Neale shook his head at her. "Because you told Joseph that I didn't believe them when they said that some of their securities were missing," he answered. "You did it! As soon as you'd gone, they had me in, told me that it was contrary to their principles to retain servants who took sides with other people against them, handed me a cheque, and told me to cash it forthwith and depart. And--here I am!" "You don't seem to mind this very much, Mr. Neale," observed the Earl, looking keenly at this victim of summary treatment. "Do you?" "If your lordship really wants to know," answered Neale, "I don't! I'm truly thankful. It's only what would have happened--in another way. I meant to leave Chestermarke's. If it hadn't been for Mr. Horbury, I should have left ages ago. I hate banking! I hated the life. And--I dislike Chestermarke's! Immensely! Now, I'll go and have a free life somewhere in Canada or some equally spacious clime--where I can breathe." "Not at all!" said Betty decidedly. "You shall come and be my manager in London. The brewery wants one, badly. You shall have a handsome salary, Wallie--much more than you had at that beastly bank!"